Harwell says support for Henry not an “endorsement”

State Rep. Beth Harwell reached out to The Tennessean this week to clarify the difference between supporting a candidate and endorsing a candidate.

Harwell, a Republican, said last week she was supporting state Sen. Douglas Henry, a Democrat, in his bid for an 11th term in office. Fresh off his narrow win in the Democratic primary, Henry is being challenged by GOP newcomer Steve Dickerson in November.

“I’m supporting Sen. Henry,” Harwell said in an interview last week. “He’s excellent to work with, he’s a fiscal conservative and we have a personal friendship.”

But, Harwell wanted to clarify today that she was not endorsing Henry over Dickerson. Harwell did not say why she thought it was necessary to differentiate her support for Henry.

“I want to clarify a comment recently reported in an article in The Tennessean,” Harwell said. “While I expressed admiration for Senator Henry and our wonderful working relationship, my statement was not an endorsement.”

Dickerson’s campaign announced this week that the Nashville anesthesiologist did pick up an actual endorsement from state Sen. Brian Kelsey, R-Germantown.